Gravity-lock for windows.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

W. A. HEARTT.

GRAVITY LOOK FOR WINDOWS. APPLICATION FILED MAY19.1005.

III/III UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. HEARTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO FRANK VOIGTMANN, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, AND SILAS H. POMEROY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., OOMPOSING THE FIRM OF VOIGTMANN AND COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GRAVITY-LOCK FOR WINDOWS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed May 19, 1905- Serial No. 261,172.

To all whom it incl/y concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM A. HEARTT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gravity-Locks for Vindows, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to window-locks in general, but more particularly to the locks employed for normally fastening or securing the upper and inwardly swinging portion of a tilting window-sash so as to lock the same in its normal or closed position, and especially to the locks for this purpose which are automatic in character-that is to say, which are adapted to automatically latch when the window-sash is tilted back to its vertical or closed position and automatically unlatched by a downward pull on the cord or chain employed for opening the window.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is the provision of an improved, simplified, and highly-eflicient window-lock of the foregoing general description.

Certain special objects are the provision of an improved construction and arrangement for more effectually insuring an automatic latching of the window when the same is closed; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby any tendency on the part of the window to vibrate while closed as a result of wind or hand or other pressure is effective in producing a self-tightening action on the part of the lock and whereby the window when closed is prevented from working loose or rattling; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of such character that the mutually-engaging portions of the lock will always when .the window is closed, and notwithstanding the wear which inevitably results from long and continual use, be capable of an effective self-tightening action; to provide an improved construction and arrangement which will insure a more positive and certain action of the lock, both in locking and unlocking, and which will tend to preclude or greatly reduce the trouble, losses, and annoyances heretofore experienced in connection with certain more or less faulty and impractical constructions, and to provide certain details of construction and features of improvement tending to increase the general efliciency and serviceability of a device of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an inside view of a window, showing the location and application of a lock embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of my improved lock, showing the adjacent portions of the window structure. 3 3 in Fig. 2.

The general style and. construction of the window are unimportant. As illustrated, the window is of that particular type in which the upper sash A is pivotally mounted at a, and thus adapted to tilt or swing about a horizontal axis. Usually in windows of this character the upper portion of the sash swings inward, while the lower portion swings outward, and the pivots are so placed that the window-sash when released from its tilted or opened position will immediately return of its own accord to its normal or vertical position. As illustrated, the window-lock comprises a stationary support or bracketplate B, adapted to be secured to the head of the window-frame or to the meeting-rail of the window structure. A locking-dog O is pivotally mounted upon this support or bracketplate and so arranged that it projects outwardly and underneath the said windowframe. Also the construction of the connection between the locking dog and 'said bracket-plate is such that the dog has a limited degree of downward motion, whereby it may hang obliquely when the window is open. The bracket-plate D is adapted to be secured to the top or upper portion of the window- Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line' sash A, preferably by means of screws cl, passing inwardly through the sash-flange a and into the upper portion of the said bracketplate. An additional screw (1 inserted outwardly and into the said sash, may be provided for holding the lower portion of the bracket-plate D in place upon the tilting or swinging window-sash.

It will be seen that the bracket B is preferably provided with slots 1), whereby it may be adjusted upon the fastening-screws b, so as to accurately position the locking-dog O relatively to the inclined contact-surface d of the bracket-plate D. The relative formation may be such that the said contact-surface constitutes the chord of an imaginary arc struck from the axis of the locking-dog, said arc intersecting the point of contact between the locking-dog and the said contactsurface at the upper portion thereofthat is, before the parts have become worn down to any extent. matically brought into locking engagement with the said contact-surface by the closing of the window. When closed, any tendency toward vibration on the part of the window enables the locking-dog, by reason of the inclination of the contact-surface, to utilize its weight in exerting a wedging-pressure upon the said contact-surface in a direction to more firmly close the window. In this way the lock is self-tightening, so to speakthat is, the more the window tends to rattle the greater the tendency of the locking-dog to settle, and thus wedge or crowd the upper part of the Window-sash firmly against the window-frame.

A weighted releasing-lever E is prov ded, the same being pivotally mounted upon the bracket-plate D. It will be seen that this lever is so formed that its upper portion e is adapted to be drawn into engagement with the under surface of the locking-dog C, and to thereby act as a sort of cam for lifting the locking-dog out of its locking engagement with the said contact-surface when it is desired to open the window. A cord or chain or other operating connection F is attached to the inner arm a of the said lever and constitutes the means for both tilting said lever and pulling open the window. In other words, the initial pull of the said cord or chain is efiective in lifting the weighted releasing-lever E and in thereby causing the locking-dog to become disengaged .from the contact-surface 61 At the same time the pull thus exerted and continued upon the said connection is sufiicient to pull the tilting or swinging window-sash A into an inclined or opened position. When the window is thus opened, the tilting or swinging sash can be maintained in such position by suitably fastening the cord or chain F to a suitable device G, carried by the upper portion of the lower window-sash.

It will be seen that the portion d of the bracket-plateD constitutes a stop for the arm or rear portion 6 of the releasing-lever and that the motion of the said lever is limited in the other direction by its engagement with the contact-surface d". The weight of the outer portion of the said releasing-lever is sufficient to more than counterbalance the cord or chain or other operating connection F, and to thus always maintain the lever in its normal or inoperative position. As stated above, however, a slight pull exerted upon The said dog is adapted to be auto-' the said cord or chain is sufficient to throw the releasing-lever into its elevated position, thus throwing the locking-dog out of engagement with the contact-surface (P. In this way the initial pull, so to speak, on the means employed for manually pulling'open the window is effective in automatically unlatching the locking-dog. It is evident that with the construction shown the locking-dog will always be subject to the action of gravity and will always be capable of exerting a wedging-pressure upon the bracket-plate I), even though the contact-surface d should become very much worn by long and continual use. In

other words, the said locking-dog can be mounted for more or less downward swing and will always be capable of producing the said wedging action until said contact-surface becomes fully worn away and until the adjustment of the bracket-plate B, support ing the locking-dog C, has been fully extended downward.

The arrangement of the screws holding the bracket-plate B is such as to permit of adjustment at any time to take up looseness due to wear of the locking-dog C or the contact-surface (1 or allowed to close, according to the construction of the window, the upper portion of the movable sash strikes theunder side of the dog and raises the latter out of the way. When the sash is brought to its vertical position, the said dog then falls into position to engage the contact-surface, and the window is thus locked in its closed condition. It will be seen that gravity is utilized in bringing the dog into locking engagement with the bracket-plate on the window-sash and that gravity is also utilized in restoring the weighted releasing-lever to its normal position. I/Vith this construction and mode of operation the automatic locking action is rendered more certain and positive in character, and the unlocking action is also rendered more certain and positive in character. It will be seen that the locking-dog swings about a horizontal axis 1), said axis being stationary. On the other hand, the axis d of the releasing-lever is horizontally disposed and laterally movable. In this way the lock comprises two mutually-engaging members, whereof one is rigid with the window-sash and the other pivotally mounted, or at least movably mounted, upon the window-frame or upper stationary portion of the window structure. It will be seen that the lever is pivoted upon and between the side portion d of the bracketplate D. In this way the screw (1 is concealed by the lever. It will be seen that the dog C has its free or distal end provided with an end surface adapted to rest flatwise upon the inclined surface of the stop. This gives more bearing and more friction and more security against the window being accidentally forced open. It will be under- When the window is closed stood, however, that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described.

The bracket-plate D constitutes a stop for supporting or enga ing the distal end of the dog and upon which the releasing-lever is pivoted. In order to secure the self-tightening action, the dog is adapted to swing or drop considerably below the point at which it is supported by the stop.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a dog pivoted at its outer end, a stop for the inner end of said dog, said stop having an inclined contact-surface for supporting the free end of said dog, a bracket upon which the said dog is pivoted, and a releasing-lever pivotally mounted on said stop and adapted to engage the under side of the dog to disengage the same from the said in elincd contact-surface.

2. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a window-frame, a dog pivoted at the outer edge of the frame and adapted to swing inwardly underneath the same, a swinging window-sash, a stop mounted upon siid sash and provided with a contact-sun face adapted to engage the inner end of said dog when the window is closed, and a releasing-lever pivoted on said stop and adapted to enga ge the under side of said dog to disengage the same from said contact-surface.

In a device of the class specified, the combination of a window-frame, a bracket secured at the outer edge of said frame, a dog pivoted on said bracket and adapted to swing inwardly underneath the said frame, a swinging window-sash, a stop secured to said sish and provided with an inclined contactsurfiiee for supporting the inner end of said dog when the window is closed, and a releasing-lever pivoted on the said stop and provided with a weighted outer end adapted to engage the under side of said dog to disenthe same from the said contact-surface 4. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a window-frame, a dog pivoted at the outer edge of said frame and pro jecting inwardly underneath the same, and being free to swing downwardly at its inner end, a window-sash, a stop on said sash adapted to engage and support the inner end of said dog, this stop furnishing the sole support for the inner free end of the dog so that said dog shall be adapted for gravitational movement below the point at which its free end is supported by said stop, a connection for manually opening the window, and means operated by the said connection to raise the dog out of engagement with the stop In a device of the class specified, the combination of a window-frame, a dog pivoted at its outer end to said frame and having its inner end free to gravitate, a windowsash, and a stop on said sash provided with an inclined contact-surface adapted to furnish the sole support for the inner end of said dog when the window is closed, said dog adapted for gravitational movement below the point at which its free end is supported by said stop, whereby the said dog and stop have a self-tightening action when the sash is closed, a connection for manually opening the window, and means operated by said connection to raise the dog out of contact with said stop when the window is opened.

6. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a sheet-metal windowfra1ne, a bracket B secured at the outer edge of said frame, a dog C pivoted at its outer end upon said bracket and adapted to swing inwardly underneath the said frame, a sheet-metal sash A pivoted to swing about a horizontal axis, a stop D secured to said sash and provided with an inclined contact-surface d for supporting the inner end of said dog when the window is closed, a releasingdever E pivoted on said step and provided with a weighted end portion 6 adapted to engage the under side of said dog to disengage the same from said contact-surface, and a connection F attached to the inner end of said lever.

7. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a window-frame, a dog pivoted at its outer end on said frame, a windowsash pivoted on said frame, a stop secured on said sash and provided with an inclined con.- tact-surface for supporting the inner end of said dog when the window is closed, and means for unlatching said dog, the said contact-surface being substantially at right angles toa line drawn from its center to the axis of the dog, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a window-frame, a dog pivoted at its outer end on said frame, a swlng; ing sash, a stop secured on said sash and provided with an inclined contact-surface for supporting the inner end of said dog when the window is closed, and means for unlatching said dog, the inner end of the dog having an end adapted to rest flatwise upon said contact-surface, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a dog pivoted to the windowframe at its outer end and extending inwardly, a stop for the inner free end of said dog, said stop having a contact-surface for engaging the free end of said dog, this contact-surface affording the sole support for the free end of the stop, and a releasing-lever pivotally mounted on said stop, adapted to engage the under side of the dog to lift and disengage the same from the said contact-surface, said stop provided with a portion for engaging and supporting the lever in normal position.

10. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a bracket, a dog having its outer end pivoted on said bracket and its IIC otherbnd extending inwardly underneath doW, said stop provided with a portion for the same this inner end being free to graviengaging and supporting the lever in normal tate, a stop furnishing the sole support for position. the free end of the dog, the dog being adap t- Signed by me at New York city, New 5 .ed for gravitfitionall movement belowd tlhe York, this 6th day of May, 1905.

"point at Whic its ee end is supports y said stop, a releasing-lever pivoted on said WILLIAM H stop and adapted to engage the under sur- Witnesses: face of the dog, and means for operating said E. H. TUCKER, 1o lever and simultaneously opening the win- FREDERICK W. SPARKS. 

